FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 6, 2008
INTERVIEWS: DEAN DEBNAM 888-621-6988 / 919-880-4888
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE POLL: TOM JENSEN 919-744-6312
UNC favored team of North Carolinians against Duke
Raleigh, N.C. – More North Carolinians will be rooting for UNC than Duke this
weekend as the two teams play for the ACC championship in Durham this weekend,
according to the newest survey by Public Policy Polling.
A recent statewide survey showed that 40% of respondents would pull for UNC to win,
while 24% prefer Duke. Given North Carolina’s reputation as a basketball crazy state, a
surprising 36% of those surveyed said they didn’t care.
“You would think based on the amount of attention that Duke-UNC basketball games get
that more North Carolinians would prefer one team or the other,” said Dean Debnam,
President of Public Policy Polling. “It’s not surprising given UNC’s broad alumni base
in the state that it’s the more popular team.”
Although UNC is the preferred team in every region of the state, there are some
interesting disparities in levels of support. UNC is most popular in the greater Charlotte
region, where respondents favored it 45-23, and in the Mountains where it leads 42-20.
The closest gap between the teams is in the Triad, where Carolina has just a 34-27
advantage.
There are no significant differences between support for the two teams along party,
gender, or racial lines. That could be an indication that college basketball is one thing in
North Carolina that transcends all of our standard differences.
PPP surveyed 969 likely North Carolina voters on February 5th. The survey’s margin of
error is +/-3.1%. Other factors, such as refusal to be interviewed and weighting, may
introduce additional error that is more difficult to quantify.
Complete results are attached and can be found at www.publicpolicypolling.com.
If you would like an interview regarding this release, please contact Dean Debnam at
(888) 621-6988 or 919-880-4888.
###
Public Policy Polling Phone: 888 621-6988
3020 Highwoods Blvd. Web: www.publicpolicypolling.com
Raleigh, NC 27604 Email: information@publicpolicypolling.com
Duke/UNC Basketball Survey Results
Q1 Who are you rooting for in the Duke/UNC Q5 If you are 18 to 29 years old, press 1 now. If
basketball game? If Duke, press 1. If UNC, you are 30 to 45, press 2. If you are 46 to 65,
press 2. If you don't care, press 3. press 3. If older than 65, press 4.
Duke .......................24% Don't care ...............36% 18-29....................... 6% 46-65.......................46%
UNC ........................40% 30-45.......................18% Older than 65 ..........30%
Q2 If you are a Democrat, press 1. If a Q6 What is your area code?
Republican, press 2. If other, press 3. 252.................................................................. 15%
Democrat ................48% Other.......................15%
336.................................................................. 21%
Republican..............37%
704.................................................................. 17%
Q3 If you are a woman, press 1. If a man, press 2. 828.................................................................. 12%
Woman ........................................................... 55%
910.................................................................. 16%
Man................................................................. 45%
919.................................................................. 19%
Q4 If you are white, press 1, if African-American,
press 2. If other, press 3.
White ......................72% Other....................... 3%
African American ....25%
February 5, 2008 3020 Highwoods Blvd.
Survey of 969 North Carolina voters Raleigh, NC 27604
information@publicpolicypolling.com / 888 621-6988
Crosstabs
Party Gender
Base Dem ocrat Republican Other Base Wom an Man
Duke/UNC Duke/UNC
Duke 24% 24% 25% 25% Duke 24% 24% 25%
UNC 40% 40% 39% 43% UNC 40% 39% 41%
Don't care 36% 36% 36% 33% Don't care 36% 37% 34%
Race Age
African 18- 30- 46- Older
Base White Am erican Other Base 29 45 65 than 65
Duke/UNC Duke/UNC
Duke 24% 25% 24% 21% Duke 24% 38% 25% 22% 25%
UNC 40% 42% 35% 33% UNC 40% 31% 45% 42% 36%
Don't care 36% 34% 40% 45% Don't care 36% 32% 29% 36% 39%
Region
Base 252 336 704 828 910 919
Duke/UNC
Duke 24% 24% 27% 23% 20% 20% 30%
UNC 40% 37% 34% 45% 42% 41% 43%
Don't care 36% 39% 40% 32% 38% 38% 28%
February 5, 2008 3020 Highwoods Blvd.
Survey of 969 North Carolina voters Raleigh, NC 27604
information@publicpolicypolling.com / 888 621-6988